The Signs of the End

Scripture: Matthew 24; Ezekiel 38 v 14-23; 39 v 1-7; 1 Thessalonians 4 v 13-18 (The Rapture).

Whenever something catastrophic happens the placards come out with The End is Nigh being announced. In verse 36 Jesus says "But of that day and hour knoweth no man,no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only." So anyone who ever predicts that they know the date of the Second Coming is wrong.

In verses 1 to 4 Jesus showed His disciples the Temple buildings and said they would be destroyed. His disciples asked 3 separate questions.

1. Tell us when shall these things be? - referring to the Temple.

2. What shall be the sign of your coming?

3. What are the signs of the end of the world?

Some people have confused the issue by making these three questions into a simultaneous event. The first question would be answered in AD70 when the Romans destroyed the Temple causing the few surviving Jews to retreat to the Masada rock fortress. Eventually they scattered into different places being less than 100 Jews left alive. But through those few God kept alive His Covenant with them and rebuilt them and restored them back into the land of Israel. Those who hate the one true God hate Israel and want her wiped off the map. This hatred is fuelled by Satan.

 What will be the signs of His (next) coming? The first thing Jesus said is Take heed that no man deceive you! So one of the signs of times will be people who go out of their way to lie, cheat, steal, scam, religious deceit, political deceit, business deceit, relationship deceit. Jesus said many will come in my name and deceive many. People who say they are Christ or His sole representative are deceiving you.

There will be World Wars,wars and rumours of wars to increase fear and panic; there will be famines, plagues, and an increase in earthquakes in many places. These are called the beginning of sorrows. So the 20th century was like the curtain raiser for what is to come.

There will then come serious persecution of Christians, who will be hated by people of all other nations for believing in Jesus. Many false prophets shall rise and lead many away from the one True God. There will be a terrible increase in divorce.

Jesus says that those who endure to the end will be saved.

Then the full gospel of Jesus will be preached in all the world and then shall the end come.  This full gospel can be found in preceding articles starting with Whom God Foreknew going to In the Very Beginning. It is not complete yet but will be soon.

It is important for people to know that before the Great Tribulation starts Christians will be recalled to Heaven as Ambassadors are recalled to their home countries when war is declared. This recall is know as The Rapture when millions of born again Christians will be lifted from the Earth to meet Jesus in the air.

At the same time The Antichrist will take his seat in the Holy of Holies in the rebuilt Temple and declare himself God. The eyes of the Jews will be opened to this imposter they signed a peace treaty with, and they will flee into the mountains of Petra. 

Thereafter all the nations of the world will rise against Israel and an army of 200 million will meet Israel on the Plains of Meggido for the Battle of Armageddon. At this moment Jesus Christ and all His followers will come down on these forces and 166 million troops will immediately die. The rest will flee back the way they came.

Thereafter Jesus will rule as the Lord of Lords and King of Kings for 1000 years of peace and restoration. Only His followers will be on Earth with Him. All others will be with their god and master in the lake of fire.

Our God sent His Son Jesus to die a horrible death to prevent any from spending eternity in that frightful place. It is the need of every Christian to preach the gospel to the lost. There is no Plan B. There is no other name under Heaven than the name of Jesus Christ by which we may be saved.

 Prayer: Heavenly Father You have kept every promise and shown us how to get out of trouble free. All we can do is share the truth and trust You to open the eyes, ears and hearts of those who need to be saved. In Jesus' name. Amen.